REVEALED: No Messi, Neymar or Hazard among 10 most successful dribblers in Europe

We’ve delved into the stats to reveal the 10 most successful dribblers in Europe’s top five leagues, looking at the percentage of dribble attempts that each player completes in order to do so.

First and foremost, it’s worth clarifying that in terms of statistics a dribble is only completed if the opponent makes an attempt at a tackle. For example if a player were to take a touch beyond a player and simply beat them in a foot race, that is not considered a dribble.

Secondly, in order to ensure that only players who regularly attempt to beat a man are considered, we’ve taken the average number of dribbles per 90 of players to complete at least 20 (2.05) and used that as a qualifier. That’s bad news for Atletico Thomas Partey, who has completed an outstanding 91.7 per cent of his dribble attempts but only at an average of 1.75 per 90 - in turn not making the cut. Partey poopers etc.

It’s also pertinent to add that of the 236 players to have completed 20 or more dribbles this season, the average success rate is 60 per cent, and only 16 per cent of said players have surpassed the 70 per cent success mark.

Brace yourself for the absence of some big names and appearance of some surprising ones, and without further ado, the top ten is as follows…

10) Tiemoue Bakayoko (AC Milan)

The Frenchman may have been derided during his time at Chelsea last season but his form, particularly of late, on loan at AC Milan may yet mean the midfielder has a future at Stamford Bridge. He’s looked like the player that caught the eye at Monaco once more, breezing past opponents having completed 2.7 dribbles per 90 at an impressive 72.7 per cent success rate.

9) Joao Cancelo (Juventus)

Another summer signing that has taken to his new Serie A club in fine fashion, albeit with prior experience of the league at Inter, Cancelo has proven to be a substantial upgrade at right-back for The Old Lady. While overshadowed by a certain compatriot in Turin, the 24-year-old has been superb in the attacking phase, completing 3.1 dribbles per 90 at a 72.9 per cent success rate.

8) Teji Savanier (Nimes)

Sitting comfortably in mid-table, newly promoted Ligue 1 side Nimes have adjusted to the top-flight very well and midfield talisman Savanier is an embodiment of that fact. The 27-year-old has a bit of everything to his game but certainly isn’t a jack of trades. He’s mastered the art of dribbling for much of the campaign after all, completing 2.3 dribbles per 90 and 73.1 per cent of his overall attempts.

7) Kerem Demirbay (Hoffenheim)

Speaking of midfielders that have multiple strings to their bow brings us nicely on to Demirbay, who, with all due respect to Hoffenheim, will surely move on to bigger and better things before long. The German international is 25 now and in the form of his career, winning the WhoScored.com man of the match award in four of his last five appearances, while completing 2.7 dribbles per 90 and 73.2 per cent of his total attempts.

6) Suso (AC Milan)

Very much the main man for Milan, Suso has been a revelation since moving to San Siro with his creativity from the right often proving decisive for the rossoneri. His low centre of gravity and agility make him hard to dispossess too, and the Spaniard has completed an excellent 76.4 per cent of his dribbles this season, with 2.1 successful take ons per 90 minutes in Serie A.

5) Ademola Lookman (Everton)

The fact that Lookman even qualifies here with 20 dribbles having only played 489 minutes of league action this season highlights just how proficient the youngster is with the ball at his feet. Utilised more often since the turn of the year, while Everton’s form has been disappointing the fans will hope that doesn’t curtail the 21-year-old’s opportunities having completed 3.7 dribbles per 90 at a fantastic 76.9 per cent success rate.

4) Adama Traore (Wolves)

Another young forward that has found playing time hard to come by in the Premier League, Traore hasn’t had the impact he would have liked at Molinuex but his presence on the pitch remains a frightening proposition for opposition defenders. Of the 236 players to have completed 20 or more dribbles, the Spaniard ranks second in terms of per 90 statistics with a whopping 6.3, making his ranking in fourth for success rate (77.1 per cent) mightily impressive.

3) Joaquin (Real Betis)

The oldest player in the top ten by a full ten years, Joaquin is proving that, at 37, there’s life in the old dog yet. He’s understandably not a regular at Real Betis but has done so on nine of 15 appearances, in that time averaging 2.7 dribbles per 90 minutes. To be his age and boast a success rate of 77.4 per cent is frankly remarkable.

2) Giannelli Imbula (Rayo Vallecano)

It’s fair to say Stoke fans won’t remember Imbula too fondly but the midfielder once considered a precocious talent has never disappointed when it’s come to his dribbling ability. The ease with which he could glide past players from deep was a joy to behold in his final season at Marseille and he’s still doing just that despite a pretty dramatic drop off in defensive contribution. The Frenchman, now 26, is averaging 3 successful dribbles per 90 at a sensational 78 per cent success rate.

1) Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich)

While all those before him in this list deserve great credit for their dribbling prowess, in truth none come close to Thiago’s stupendous figures. The Spain international is perhaps known for passing ability and vision above all else but the way that he holds off opposition players when running with the ball is quite frankly unrivalled. The metronomic midfielder has completed 2.8 dribbles per 90 Bundesliga minutes this season, with an astonishing 88.4 per cent success rate.